X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Rated PG-13
107 Minutes
Nicole’s Rating: B-
(non-spoiler)

A superhero movie about one of the most beloved characters in the comic book world with A-list actors sounds like the perfect combination for a great summer movie…wrong. This movie had such great potential but ended short on the enthrallment meter.

If you have ever read a Marvel comic book, 98% chance you’ve come across Wolverine and his story and his journey living an immortal life. The best part of his story in this movie comes at the very beginning while the opening credits are running, so if you go to the show, make sure you get there for the very start. Then comes the part where Logan tries to live a normal life and things go a bit downhill from there. They could have cut back on this portion of his story and given us some better action sequences instead. While living this life of simplicity in Canada, his life gets turned around again as he has to face battling demons of the past and finally the film picks up.

Hugh Jackman does a great job playing Logan/Wolverine and looks great doing it! You do come out feeling that Mr. Jackman is the only one that could give this part everything needed to convince you that he truly is Wolverine. The main reason why I saw this film is because they finally introduce my favorite X-men Gambit. This came to be a disappointment for me. When you’re first introduced to Gambit, the character was almost spot-on with the Cajun accent, special abilities and attitude but his character looses almost everything Gambit is known for within the remainder of the film. Maybe if they do an Origins movie about him, they’ll get it correct. Another surprise for me was the choice to cast Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. I believe Mr. Reynolds gave the best performance he could, but I would have liked to have seen an unknown actor play this part instead.

The biggest disappointment in this film was the graphics. I’ve seen better graphic 30 years ago! Wolverine’s claws and explosions looked so fake so many times of the film it made me wonder if the entire budget went into donut fund. The production company should have cut out a bunch of the B.S. parts of the film and put more into the graphic arts department.

Honestly, this movie isn’t as bad as I’m making it out to be, but it truly isn’t worth seeing in the theater. Save you money and wait to rent it on DVD. Hugh Jackman’s performance is worth seeing it.

Star Trek

Star Trek
Rated PG-13
126 Minutes
Nicole’s Rating: A
(non-spoiler)

What a way to start off the summer movie season! Action, humor, emotional conflicts and a bit of romance this movie has what the average movie go-er wants.

The movie takes us back to the time when Captain Kirk and Spock we’re young men learning the ways of the Federation, so your typical prequel. If you are a Star Trek, (you most likely have seen this film already) you’ll realize that the story line of Kirk’s father and past has changed a bit, but it works out perfectly for the film.

When I first heard about who was play Kirk and Spock, I was very skeptical of the choices, but after seeing the film every bad though I had changed. The casting of this movie was almost perfect. And by saying almost I only had an issue with one character that that was Amanda Grayson (Kirk’s mother) played by Winona Ryder. She acted liked like she just got the script that day and she looked like she was reading queue-cards off to the side. Thank goodness she has a very minor part. I don’t think I could take too much of her poor performance.

The only other major issue I had is the same one I have with most movies that rely on CGI and that is the continuity of size. At one point in the movie, the space pod from the Enterprise was the same size of the Enterprise, but I’m sure most people will not notice it, because of the intense moments at that time. One more thing that I thought could have been added to the movie is the deleted scenes I read about. Yes, it would have made the movie longer, but many questions would have been answered, such as why the Romuln ship looked the way it did.

Even if you’re not a Star Trek fan, I highly recommend this movie. It’s one that I know I could see over again in the theater and have just as good of time as I did the first time around.

Reality...I Don't Like It...Or Maybe I Do

Well it's been a week since my vacation ended and I'm still trying to get used to being back in reality and I'm not liking it. I want to be back in the laid back life of "Down Under". I'm still adjusting to driving (I know it's crazy).

However I'm glad to be back to good American food. I can't believe how much I missed ketchup and ranch dressing. Plus, I can start my favorite time of year for movies. I love summer movies! Love, love, love them! So be on the look out for many movie reviews from me. Another good thing is I'm going to start working out again. My vacation did me wonders for getting me wanting to get back to the gym. I got plenty of exercise while on holiday and even lost seven pounds! Now I just need to keep it going.

Even though my vacation is over, I can honestly say that it was one of the best things to happen to me. So big loves and hugs to my parents who gave me this opportunity!

Vacation Blog

Hey everyone!I've set up a blog just for this vacation. I know it seems like that's all I talk about and I'm making a big deal of this, but it is to me. If you care to watch my day to day adventure Down Under, follow my blog!
http://thehalefamilyvisitsthelanddownunder.blogspot.com/

I'll see you in a month!
Enjoy!
Luvs & Hugs,~ Nicole

Life Changes = Head Spinning

Well today is my last day at The Document Group and I honestly don’t think it has hit me until now that I most likely will not be coming back here. I gave up working here so that I can go on a vacation with the folks and sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice or not.

So many people are without jobs right now and I voluntarily left mine. What am I thinking?!? But again, this is a chance to start anew, something I think I desperately need. Honestly this vacation couldn’t come at a better time with all the drama that has surround me lately, but I’ll have to come back to eventually.

I will miss this place. I love the people I work with and I couldn’t ask for a better boss. I guess it’s time to step down and give someone else a chance of working, in the meantime…I’m getting ready for a trip of a lifetime!

Postcards From Down Under

Hey everyone!

If you didn't know yet, in two weeks I'll be headed on a plane for my first trip in over five years (sorry I don't count Vegas anymore as vacation). If anyone would like a postcard from Australia, New Zealand or both, send me an email with your full name and mailing address.

BeatlesDiva@aol.com

Vampire Wars

There’s a reason why I no longer have any game consoles and that’s because I used to be a game addicted. I missed college classes, any type of socializing and not to mention many hours of sleep. While I’m at work and when there are some down times I like to play some games to pass the time. Well, I have found the game “Vampire Wars” on Facebook and it’s starting to come to the point of the console days of college. Yesterday I actually had some time to myself. I spent the whole time playing this dumb game along with going to bed two hours later than usual. Bejeweled is bad enough, but now I have this to drain my brain with. ARGHHH! Why do I have to be so competitive?!



BTW – if you are on Facebook come and join my clan :-P

Sleepless in Las Vegas

If you’re on Facebook you’ll know that I’ve spent the last 6 days in Las Vegas. Unfortunately it wasn’t for fun. The closest I got to any casino was driving past the strip going from one hospital to another. My sister, Tiffany was in the hospital in major pain. She has been sick for a long time and it was her boss that made her go into the hospital.

I got the call Saturday afternoon, right after my shift at work that she was in the hospital and not doing well. So I got packed up and headed towards Vegas. When I got the hospital I saw Tiff lying there in major pain and it broke my heart.

To make a long week short here is the low down:

~ Tiff has pinched nerves and collapsed discs, basically causing her to have a slow and very painful way that could eventually lead to paralysis. Because she can still feel pain and her legs still spasm, the doctors feel that it wasn’t a cause for an emergency surgery, even though she needs surgery big time.

~ Because of the way the doctors have put in her I.V. and left it in she has an infection (cellulitious) that she’s now fighting off.

~ There was only one hospital in the area that surgeons do back surgery at, and it wasn’t the one that she was at and because insurance is a joke, they wouldn’t pay for the transfer, so we got her discharged and had to transfer her ourselves to another hospital out in Henderson. Here is where we sat for hours in the E.R. with a bunch of sickos. Listening to other’s issues, seeing other’s infections and the smell and sounds of others vomiting…who knows what we might of caught ourselves.

~ So now we wait for 10 days when Tiff can actually go in a see the specialists about surgery.

In the time that I was there, I got very little sleep and what sleep I did get was in the hospital chair and I got to shower only twice. Gross I know, but comfort was not a top priority while there. I did get to meet a couple of Tiff’s friends who are nurses so they’ll be able to look after her until her appointment time, so that’s a great comfort.

I know it sounds like I’m rambling, because most likely I am. Lack of sleep will do that. I just ask that everyone keep Tiff in your thoughts and prayers as she goes through this difficult time.

The view outside the hospital window that we came to know well. If you look if the very far off distance you can see the strip.

A Rant or Two or Three or...

Man I've been one cranky woman these days and since I've been anti-social lately I'm letting it all out here. Beware, a lot of complaining is to come.

I guess I'm getting to that stage in my life where the more people I know and the more I know about others...I just don't care. I guess it's not that I don't care, it's because I'm getting worn out. The older I get the more "issues" I have to deal with. Which is fine if they were just my issues, but I'm a sucker for helping out anyone in need and I think some people a.k.a. "leeches" can smell that. I know a few people, who unlike myself, haven't worked for months...literally months. One person I know hasn't worked since 2007. How they have a nice apartment, new electronics, brand name clothes, etc I don't know. But maybe I do. It's because of people like me...the big hearted suckers wanting to be mankind's heroes. I know that many of these "leeches" are living of the government and churches and people like me. But how are they going to improve their life if everyone keeps coddling them? I say cut them off! And I have begun to do this myself. Why should these people live life to the fullest going on vacations, eating out every day, having a nice car and gas money to fill it...basically having all the time in the world to do what they want when I struggle with working 60-80 hours a week just to make ends meet?!?

Next complaint is about myself. I'm so irritated with myself and the jealousy that I have for others. I read peoples Twitters, Blogs and Vlogs and I can't help but think "Why not me? Why can't I have what they have"? I swear I just have bad luck when it comes to figuring out what to do with my own life. I've been to school three times and each time the degree has failed me due to the industry that it's been in. Yes, I love to learn but certain degrees can only get you so far. I'd love to go back to school again, but I'm afraid of failing once more. I feel like everytime I try to improve myself, something throws me back farther than when I started. I honestly think that my way of life was so much better right after the first round school. I had a career that I used my degree for, I had a good savings, enjoyed my time off, I even had a prospect of starting a family. These days I dread having any spare time to myself because it gives me too much time to think.

Next I hate to complain about this, but I'm going to anyway. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS, Mormons) and even though I love my church and what it teaches, I'm so sick of having to stand up for it. I know what I believe but I'm sick of wasting my breath trying to defend it others who are not members. Most of the time I know I'm not going to change their minds so why should I sit there and debate with them. They see how I live, what I do and how I treat others, that's my part for my church...no more debates! I just think it's ironic that in these days people who have religion and follow the ways of religious leaders are looked at as the evil ones.

One more rant for the road...

Politicians and Actors - When did these two "industries" merge? I'm sick of how the media is portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as celebrities. Taking pictures of every step they make, show off their latest fashions, even telling the world what they had for breakfast that day. Leave them alone and let them do their jobs! I'd like to think that with the nation in the state that it is today, that the President has more on his mind then what designer tie he'll be wearing that day. As for the actors and actresses...yes it's great that you have an opinion, but so does the rest of the nation. Just because you're in the lime light most of the time, doesn't give you the right to make decisions for the rest of us. And if certain entertainers have played the part of a President or Vice President, that doesn't MAKE you a politician, it still makes you an actor.

Sorry about all the bitching and moaning lately, but sometimes I just have to get these thoughts out of my head and place them somewhere else. You're just the lucky victims that get to read it.

Have I Missed Out?

People ask me a lot why I work so much. My answer…so I don’t have time to think about what I’ve missed out in life. When I’m constantly working I feel productive and useful, it’s when I actually have free time that I get down and depressed with life.

Well, it’s one of those slow, unproductive moments here at work and I have too much time to think. I’ve been thinking about just the little things that people have said to me in the past few weeks and I feel like I have missed out on some major happening in life. Here’s a few thing that were mentioned:

~ Just two days ago the lady in front of me (while in line at the store) said to the clerk that her boy better get married soon because once someone turns 28, their chances of getting married and having a family is slim to none.

~ A friend of mine said to me and a group of people that to have a kid over the age of 30 isn’t fair to the kid because older people just can’t handle the energy of children.

~ I’ve been told that I shouldn’t have any debt because I don’t have a family.

~ Someone mentioned to me that my jobs are pointless and that anyone can do them and that I should try to make an effort to do more.

Maybe that last statement is true…heck maybe all of them are. I’ve put effort in careers and school and they have landed me jobs that have been good for the time being, but LIFE happens. Unfortunately my life hasn’t been what I want it to be. I’ve had goals since I was 12 that I’ve been working on. A couple of those goals have been to be married and have children, but life hasn’t dealt me that hand. So have I missed out? According to the majority of people I know, I have. I’m only 32, how can my life be over and have no meaning? Honestly people, I’m not giving up on life just because I work. I work so I don’t give up on life.

Size Matters

Wow! This just shows how tiny our little world is. It's mind boggling!

Just Say No to Travelocity

For the past four days I’ve been trying to rebook my trip for Australia and New Zealand because there was a cancellation with the company that my father is training for down there. All I want to do is change if from travel in February to traveling in April. I know my exact flights I want to change to, I’m know about the all the change fees and all of the regulations and I'm willing to pay all of that, I just need someone to make that change. Doesn’t sound that hard does it? WRONG! I’ve had more fun at the dentist than trying to deal with Travelocity to make these changes. I have spent at least nine hours on the phone with this company! That’s more than a regular day’s work! I’ve been hung up on seven times (twice by the same agent and twice by managers) and then when I finally got someone on the phone they said there is nothing we can do to help you. WTF?!? If you have ever seen a Travelocity advertisement they say “Satisfaction Guaranteed! We'll make sure everything is right.” and that “We’re #1 with customer service”. This is the biggest pile of crap!

I don’t like to throw out numbers around but I want everyone to know how big this trip is. The cost of airline tickets, hotels and cars is over $12,000 and they turn around and tell us that there is nothing they can do for us. By the way, we have used Travelocity so much in the past we’re Gold V.I.P. members and this is how we get treated. I can't imagine how they'd treat first time users.

I’ve had enough of the run around so I’m out to boycott this company until they do something for us to get this changed. So I just want everyone out there that is booking travel online, NOT to use Travelocity. There are plenty of other sites out there that I’m sure will be more willing to help then Travelocity.

Revenge of the Fallen - New Trailer

Yep...the Transformer geek girl strikes again with a new trailer for the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. If you haven't noticed yet, I'm totally getting giddy for this movie.

Emotional Roller Coaster

My life lately has been filled with so many ups and downs, twists and turns, I’m literally making myself sick. After my last blog talking about how I’m making some decisions and changing my life, with into two days everything I decided on hit me like flaming bag of poop thrown at my face.

I thought I FINALLY had everything worked out: my vacations, my work situations, my decisions on school, etc. After booking my flights, cars and hotel rooms for my trip to Australia and New Zealand I had to give my boss two weeks notice that I was leaving to go on this trip for 4+ weeks. It was 48 hours later that I got notified that the trip has been cancelled because the job there was cancelled. The job is only for 2 weeks, but I planned on another two weeks vacation there. So needless to say I’m out money no matter if I don’t go or if I reschedule everything. Plus, I quit my job for this trip!

After a few days of mopping around I did find out the trip was rescheduled for the end of April. Yeah, I get to go on a trip. I still need to rebook everything because I honestly don’t want to spend the money on the exchanges yet. Unfortunately after speaking to a neighbor that’s from Queensland, she said well that’s usually when it floods there. ARGGH! Oh well…If I do end up finally going I’m going to enjoy it even if I’m walking waist high in water. But if I do stay as long as I planned, that means I have to cancel my trip to California to go to BotCon. So far my “Year of Travel” isn’t working out too well.

So I’ve been very nervous about what I’m going to do when my job ends in two weeks, I won’t have that income and I’d have way too much time off (I can’t sit around too long, I need work). Well, my boss goes to the same LDS ward (church) as my family and my mother and my boss’ wife got talking. Well, it wasn’t long that it got back to my boss and he told me I could stay as long as I needed to. I wouldn’t be surprised if he offered me my job back once I returned home, but that’s another decision I don’t want to think about.

I’m more confused on what to do with my pathetic life as ever. Hopefully once this first trip comes around and I actually get to go, I’ll get to relax and think things over. Sorry for the rambling, but my mind feels like it’s in the spin cycle.


Quirky Quote: Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. ~Arthur Somers Roche

It's Here Finally - Transformers 2 Trailer

I'm the biggers Transfomers Fangirl out there, so I HAVE to share this teaser trailer that was shown tonight during the Super Bowl. I'll be seeing you in the theaters June 26th!